One arrest in Round Lake Beach home invasion

Three men burst into a Round Lake Beach home early Wednesday, stole a woman's debit card and locked her in a bathroom before walking to the nearest ATM, police said.

After the burglars returned to take her car and left, the victim escaped and called police, triggering a three-hour manhunt that resulted in the arrest of one suspect near Volo, Round Lake Beach Deputy Chief Rich Chiarello said.

Formal charges against the 16-year-old male could be made by early today, Chiarello said. Two other suspects also are being sought, he said.

Police were called to the 500 block of Beachview Lane by a woman, whose name is being withheld, who said armed robbers carrying guns barged into the home about 8 a.m. They demanded money from the victim before finding her bank debit card, then demanded her personal identification number, Chiarello said.

After giving up the card number, the woman was locked in the bathroom while the thieves walked to the nearest ATM and tried to withdraw money, Chiarello said.

"We aren't sure if they were able to pull money from the ATM or not," he said. "That's something we are still trying to check into."

The gunmen then returned to the home and took the woman's car keys and stole her car.

About 9:25 a.m., a Lake County sheriff's deputy spotted a vehicle matching the description of the car. The deputy followed it to routes 12 and 120, where the suspect stopped and ran across a cornfield. The field was surrounded by officers from Lake County, Round Lake Beach, Fox Lake, Wauconda and Lakemoor. Chiarello said the chase ended when sheriff's K-9 dogs sniffed out the suspect hiding in a Dumpster at a landscaping business on Route 12 near Volo.